Winch apparatus for treating material in strand form

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is directed to an apparatus for treating material in a strand or ropelike form. The apparatus includes a bath means for containing a treating fluid and a supporting roller for the strand material spaced thereabove. Winding means in the form of an endless conveyor to which one end of the strand material and a cooperating guide roller are operatively associated with the support roller whereby in operation the strand material is successively unwound at its trailing end and rewound at its leading end about the supporting roller as the intermediate convolution is successively drawn through the treating bath.

mte States Patent 1 3,640,102

mount, Jr. et al. Feb. 8, 1972 [54] WINCH APPARATUS FOR TREATING3,308,639 3/1967 Ziegler et al ..68/l76 MATERIAL IN STRAND FORM3,460,362 8/1969 Kilgour et al. ..68/ 176 [72] lnventors: CharlesBlount, Jr., Westport, Conn.; Nelr son Cranda, Edenton NC. PnmaryExantmer William I. Price Attorney-Irving Seidman [73] Assignee: TheUnited Piece Dye Works, New York,

NY. [57] ABSTRACT Filed: 2, 1970 This disclosure is directed to anapparatus for treating materi- [21] Appl. No.: 7,604 al in a strand orropelike form. The apparatus includes a bath means for containing atreating fluid and a supporting roller for the strand material spacedthereabove. Winding means in [52] the form of an endless conveyor towhich one end of the [51] strand material and a cooperating guide rollerare operatively [58] associated with the support roller whereby inoperation the strand material is successively unwound at its trailingend and [56] References cued rewound at its leading end about thesupporting roller as the UNITED STATES PATENTS intermediate convolutionis successively drawn through the treating bath. 2,320,89l 6/1943 Ryder..68/l76 X 2,81 1,351 10/1957 Belcher 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figuresmph-Inn I All PATENTEDFEB 8m 3.640.102

sum 2 or 2 1 INVENTOR. CHAR/.55 Emu/w, JR. NELSON CR/INQALL HTT'ORNEYWINCH APPARATUS FOR TREATING MATERIAL IN STRAND FORM PROBLEMS AND PRIORART This invention is directed to an improvement in the apparatus of thetype disclosed in US. Letters Pat. No. 3,308,639. Such apparatusrequired the need of a relatively costly helical screw and complexinfinitely variable gear drive and related driving mechanism to effectthe winding and unwinding of strand material for drawing the materialthrough a bath of treating material.

An object of this invention is to provide a simplified means foreffecting the winding and unwinding of strand material in spacedconvolution about a supporting winch roller.

Another object is to provide an apparatus constructed so that strandmaterial can be readily wound in spaced convolution upon a supportingroller.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to anapparatus for treating sheet material in rope form, such as fabric. Theapparatus comprises a means for containing a bath of treating liquidover which there is rotatably supported a winch roller. A winding meansis operatively associated with the roller and it comprises an endlessconveyor to which one end of the strand material is connected.cooperatively associated with the conveyor and winch roller is a tiltedguide roller having its axis disposed out of the plate of the winchroller and disposed at a downwardly and oblique angle with respectthereto in the direction of feed. Disposed below the guide roller is arake having radially extending finger means or separators which areangularly disposed relative to one another. A drive means is operativelyassociated with the winch roller and the endless conveyor and associateglide roller and rake to effect the respective drives so that the strandmaterial is wound in spaced helical convolution spaced along the winchroller and associated guide and rake means so as to successively unwindthe helical convolution so formed at the trailing end and rewinding thehelix at its leading end as the respective convolutions are successivelydrawn through the treating bath.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent whenconsidered in view of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a winch type apparatus embodying thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is the left side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially diagrammatic enlarged detailed view shown inperspective of a fragmentary portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3.

' FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 7 is another modified form of the invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic drawings of a plan view and frontelevation view, respectively, of a modified embodiment.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in FIG. 1, a winch typeapparatus 10 for treating material, such as fabric or the like, in ropeor strand form. The apparatus 10 comprises a receptacle 11 adapted todefine a tub or bath for containing a treating fluid or liquid, as forexample, a dyeing liquid, a washing liquid, or the like depending uponthe desired operation to be carried out on the material to be passedtherethrough. Supported above the container or bath 11 between suitableside supports 12 and 13 extending thereabove is a winch roller 14 whichmay be slotted or smooth. In the illustrated embodiment the winch rolleris illustrated as being elliptical in cross section and of generalconstruction. However, it will be understood that any desirablecross-sectional shape may be employed. The winch roller 14 is rotatablysupported about longitudinally extending axis or shaft 15 which issuitably supported in the end bearings 16. A drive means, as forexample, a motor 17, is operatively connected through a gear reducer 17Aand driving belt 178 in driving relationship to the sha t 15 of thewinch roller to effect the drive or rotation thereof as will behereinafter described.

Supported on the inner side of end support 12 is an endless conveyormeans 18 which is suitably threaded about a plurality of spacedsprockets 19, 20, 21 and 22 for guiding the conveyor in an endless path.In the illustrated form of the invention the conveyor 18 comprises alink chain threaded over the series of sprockets 19-22. Each of therespective guide sprockets 1942 are rotatably journaled about a suitablepinion shaft 19A, 20A, 21A, 22A, in appropriate bearings on the endsupport. 'One of the sprockets 22 is connected into driving relationshipwith the main drive shah 15 of the winch roller. This is attained byextending one end of the winch roller shaft 15 beyond the end support 12and securing thereto a driving sprocket 23 which is connected in drivingrelationship to a driven sprocket 24 suitably mounted on the pinionshaft 22A of the conveyor guide sprocket 22. It will thus be noted thatthe drive of the conveying chain 18 is effected by the drivingconnection or chain drive 25 between the main shaft sprocket 23, and theassociated driven sprocket 24 of the conveyor chain 18.

A means in the form of an attachment ring 26 is connected to conveyorchain 18 for securing thereto one end Ml of the fabric material M to bewound in rope strand about the winch roller 14.

The arrangement is such that in operation, the conveyor chain 18 movesin an endless path about its respective guide sprockets 19-22 in asubstantially vertical plane and which path of travel is disposedsubstantially normal or at right angle to the axis or drive shaft 15 ofthe winch roller 14. The conveyor chain in rotating in a clockwisedirection as indicated by the arrows, FIG. 1, causes the leading end Mlof the material M to be wound in a continuous orbital path about theperiphery of the winch roller.

A means is provided for forming the material into spaced convolution ofa helix along the length of the winch roller as the leading end Ml ofthe material travels in an orbital path about the winch roller 14. Thisis attained by providing a guide roller 28 suitably supported betweenthe end bearings 30 and 31 disposed in the end supports 12 and 13 andopposite the winch roller 14 as shown.

The guide roller is supported about an axis or shaft 29 rotatablyjournaled in bearing 30, 31 which are adjustably supported on endsupports l2, 13. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the respective bearings30 and 31 are movably supported in a guide means 30A, 31A respectivelyand operatively connected to an adjusu'ng screw 30B, 31B for effectingthe adjustment of the axis of the guide roller 28 relative to the axisof the winch roller 14.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 it is to be noted that the axis of the guideroller 28 is skewed so that its longitudinal axis is displaceddownwardly and inwardly relative to the axis of the drive shaft 15 ofthe winch roller 14. As shown, the trailing end 28A or right end of theguide roller as viewed in FIGS. 3 to 5 is angled downwardly and towardthe shaft 15 of the winch roller 14. Thus the inclination or the skewingof the guide roller 28 is such that gravity will effect the direction offeed of the convolution of the wound material about the winch roller 14when the apparatus is placed in operation.

Cooperatively associated with the guide roller 28 and spaced therebelowis a rake means 32 for maintaining the convolution of the helical strandmaterial M being wound uniformly spaced along the winch roller 14.Referring to FIG. 3, the rake means 32 comprises a bar 33 rotatablyjournaled in end bearing 34 between the end supports 12 and 13.Connected to the rake bar 33 in longitudinally spaced relationshiptherealong are a plurality of radially extending finger means which aresuccessively disposed in relatively angular relationship about the bar33.

In the illustrated form of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3 the rakefingers 35 comprise a series of annular members or rings or loops 35which are connected at a tangent point to the rake bar 33. Each loop orring finger 35 is thus tangentially connected at angularly disposedpositions relative to one another. As shown, one side of the ringfingers 35 is rendered substantially straight and is secured to the rakebar so that the straight edge thereof extends radially therefrom. Inoperation the arrangement is such that the respective strands orconvolutions of the material being wound upon the winch roller 14 willbe located between adjacent pairs of rake fingers 35. As the rake bar 33is rotated during operation the successive convolutions of material Mare free to move along the front of the rake bar 33 as the straight edgeor tangent portion of the rake finger 35 is rotated to a positionparalleling the flow of the strand material thereon.

The drive of the rake bar 33 is attained by a chain drive 36 which isdriven from a sprocket 37 journaled on shaft A of guide sprocket 20 ofthe chain conveyor 18. As best seen, shaft 20A of the sprocket 20 isextended through the end support 12 and has secured to the other endthereof a driven sprocket 37. It in turn is connected in drivingrelationship to the driven sprocket 38 journaled on the rake bar 33, anda drive chain 36 connects sprockets 37 and 38 in driving relationship.The rake bar 33 is thus driven or rotated in timed relationship to therotation of the conveyor chain 18 and to the associated winch roller 14through suitable gear ratios.

In the form of the invention described, it is to be noted that the guideroller 28 is rotatably mounted so as to idle or be driven by thematerial being wound thereover.

In operation the inclination of the guide roller 28 and the associatedrake 32 insures that the strand material M wound about the winch roller14 moves or advances along the winch roller 14 in spaced helicalconvolutions with the respective convolution being drawn through the dyeor treating liquid contained in the subsequent container 11. To load thematerial on the winch, the leading end of the fabric material M1 issuitably attached to the attachment means 26 carried on the conveyorchain 18, and the batch of fabric then disposed in the treating solutionwithin the container. When the motor drive means 17 is actuated, thewinch roller 14 is rotated in timed sequence with the winding conveyor18 operatively connected in driving relationship thereto through theassociated chain drive and appropriate gear ratio means. As the chainwinding conveyor 18 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrowsand during the first revolution of the attachment means 26, the leadingend M1 of the fabric attached thereto moves in an orbital path so thatthe fabric in rope form is drawn over the associated guide roller 28around winch roller 14, and back to its original position. Continuedrotation of the leading end of the fabric M1 thus effects the winding ofthe fabric about the winch roller in successive convolutions as thewinch roller feeds the convolutes down into the dye path where pleatsmay result on each convolution bottom in the container or bath 11. Thefabrics or material M thus wound in a helical form with each convolutionadvances along the inclined guide roller 28 from the left to the rightend of the support roller as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3 or from right toleft in an opposite hand machine. The respective convolutions thusformed are maintained in spaced separate relationship by the rakefingers and advance along the rake bar as the tangent portion of theloops pass through the vertical. The fabric is thus continuously woundand unwound in helical form about the supporting roller 14 and its guideroller 28 and associated rake means 32. With the winch apparatus 10 thusloaded and with the proper treating liquid disposed in the bath 11, thespeed of the rotation of the winch roller 14, guide roller 28, and itsassociated rake 32, may be selected through a variable speed motor meansor gear means 17A to give the desired timing to the particularoperation. As the operation continues the fabric is continuously unwoundat its trailing end and rewound at its leading end as the respectiveconvolutions are successively drawn through the treating bath incontainer 11.

In a modified form of the invention, the guide roller 28 may be drivenin a positive manner. The positive drive of the guide roller 28 may beefiected by connecting its shaft 29 in driving relationship to the winchdrive or to one of the guide sprockets of the conveyor means throughsuitable gear ratios. For example, the shaft of one of the guidesprockets is extended through the end support 12 and has journaledthereon a driving sprocket. The driving sprocket in turn is connectedthrough a chain drive to a driven sprocket connected on the end of theroller shaft 29. In this modification the guide roller may be positivelydriven.

In FIG. 7, the guide roller 28 is positively driven by a drive chain orbelt 40 connecting sprocket 41 on the winch shaft 15 to sprocket 42 onthe guide roller shaft 29.

Also the rake for maintaining the convolutions of the helical strandmaterial or rope form strand spaced along the supporting winch rollermay be modified as seen in FIG. 6 by having radially extending fingers50, angularly disposed about the rake bar 51. In all other respects theoperation of the winch construction of FIG. 6 is similar to thathereinbefore described.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a modified form of the invention. In thisembodiment the structure of the winch apparatus is identical to thatdescribed with respect to FIGS. 1 to 7 with the exception that the guideroller is tapered or made substantially conical as best seen in FIGS. 8and 9. It is to be noted that the guide roller 70 is tapered inwardly inthe direction of feed, i.e., the smaller end of the roller 70 is to theright as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 when the conveyor means is disposed tothe left. With this arrangement the axes of rotation of the guide roller70 can be disposed parallel to the axes of rotation of the winch roller71, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. By tapering the periphery of the guideroller 70 in the direction of feed the effect is such that gravity willfeed or advance the convolutions of the material along the winch roller71 during operation as previously described.

While the invention has been described with respect to particularembodiments thereof it will be readily appreciated and understood thatvariations and modifications may be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A material treatment apparatus an elongated support roller meansmounted for rotation for supporting the material to be treated,

means for winding the material in convolute strand form upon said rollermeans,

said winding means including an initiating winder and cooperating guidemeans for guiding the convolutions of said strand material along saidroller means,

said cooperating guide means including a guide roller disposed oppositesaid support roller, and

a rake means disposed below said guide roller for maintaining theconvolution of said material spaced along the length of said supportroller, and

means for effecting the drive of said support roller means andcooperating winding means,

wherein said rake includes a longitudinally extending bar rotatablyjournaled, and

a plurality of finger means spaced along said rake bar,

said rake finger means being progressively angularly disposed relativeto one another about said bar whereby the convolution of the strandmaterial being wound thereon progressively advances along the lengththereof as said bar rotates.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including means for effectinga positive drive for said rake and connected rake fingers.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rake fingers includean annular member tangentially secured to said bar.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rake fingers includea radially extending projection.

5. A winch apparatus for treating fabrics comprising means adapted tocontain a bath of a treating liquid, a winch roller rotatably journaledand supported above said bath means,

means for effecting the drive of said winch roller,

means for winding the material to be treated in convolute strand formupon said winch roller as said winch roller rotates,

said winding means including a guide roller rotatably journaled abovesaid bath means and opposite said winch roller,

the axis of said guide roller being obliquely disposed relative to theaxis of said winch roller whereby the trailing end of the axis of saidguide roller is disposed nearest to and below the corresponding end ofthe adjacent axis of said winch roller, 7

a cooperating rake means disposed below said guide roller,

said rake means including a rake bar and a plurality of rake fingerslongitudinally and angularly spaced along and about said rake bar,

means for rotatably journaling said rake bar,

an initiating conveyor means disposed adjacent one end of said winchroller,

said conveyor means including an endless flexible conveyor havingrneansfor securing thereto one end of the strand of material,

means for effecting the drive of said conveyor means in timedrelationship to the rotation of said rake whereby the fabric is wound instrand form in helical convolutions spaced along said winch roller,guide roller and associated rake means so as to successively unwind thehelical convolution at its trailing end and rewinding the helix at itsleading end as the respective convolutions are being successively drawnthrough the treating bath.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said endless conveyorincludes a conveyor chain,

sprocket means for guiding said chain about said winch roller,

means for connecting said chain conveyor in driving relationshiprelative said winch roller,

and means for connecting said rake in timed driving relationshiprelative to said conveyor.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said rake means includesa rotatably joumaled bar disposed below said guide roller,

a plurality of radially extending fingers longitudinally spaced alongsaid bar,

said radial disposed fingers being progressively angularly disposedabout the axis of said bar.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said fingers include anannular member tangentially connected to said bar in successiveangularly disposed relationship whereby said fingers function toseparate the successive convolution of the strand material along thelength of said winch roller and as sociated guide roller.

9. A material treatment apparatus comprising:

an elongated support roller means mounted for rotation for supportingthe material to be treated,

means for winding the material in convolute strand form upon said rollermeans,

said winding including an initiating winder and cooperating guide meansfor guiding the convolutions of said strand material along said rollermeans,

said initiating winder including an endless conveyor disposed adjacentone end of said support winch roller means,

said cooperating guide means including a guide roller disposed oppositesaid support, whereby the axis of said guide roller is laterallydisposed relative to the axis of said support roller, and

said guide roller being tapered to converge in the direction of feed ofsaid convolute strands,

a rake means disposed below said guide roller for maintaining theconvolutions of said material spaced along the length of said supportroller,

and means for effecting the drive of said support roller means andcooperating winding means.

1. A material treatment apparatus an elongated support roller meansmounted for rotation for supporting the material to be treated, meansfor winDing the material in convolute strand form upon said rollermeans, said winding means including an initiating winder and cooperatingguide means for guiding the convolutions of said strand material alongsaid roller means, said cooperating guide means including a guide rollerdisposed opposite said support roller, and a rake means disposed belowsaid guide roller for maintaining the convolution of said materialspaced along the length of said support roller, and means for effectingthe drive of said support roller means and cooperating winding means,wherein said rake includes a longitudinally extending bar rotatablyjournaled, and a plurality of finger means spaced along said rake bar,said rake finger means being progressively angularly disposed relativeto one another about said bar whereby the convolution of the strandmaterial being wound thereon progressively advances along the lengththereof as said bar rotates.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 andincluding means for effecting a positive drive for said rake andconnected rake fingers.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid rake fingers include an annular member tangentially secured to saidbar.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rake fingersinclude a radially extending projection.
 5. A winch apparatus fortreating fabrics comprising means adapted to contain a bath of atreating liquid, a winch roller rotatably journaled and supported abovesaid bath means, means for effecting the drive of said winch roller,means for winding the material to be treated in convolute strand formupon said winch roller as said winch roller rotates, said winding meansincluding a guide roller rotatably journaled above said bath means andopposite said winch roller, the axis of said guide roller beingobliquely disposed relative to the axis of said winch roller whereby thetrailing end of the axis of said guide roller is disposed nearest to andbelow the corresponding end of the adjacent axis of said winch roller, acooperating rake means disposed below said guide roller, said rake meansincluding a rake bar and a plurality of rake fingers longitudinally andangularly spaced along and about said rake bar, means for rotatablyjournaling said rake bar, an initiating conveyor means disposed adjacentone end of said winch roller, said conveyor means including an endlessflexible conveyor having means for securing thereto one end of thestrand of material, means for effecting the drive of said conveyor meansin timed relationship to the rotation of said rake whereby the fabric iswound in strand form in helical convolutions spaced along said winchroller, guide roller and associated rake means so as to successivelyunwind the helical convolution at its trailing end and rewinding thehelix at its leading end as the respective convolutions are beingsuccessively drawn through the treating bath.
 6. The invention asdefined in claim 5 wherein said endless conveyor includes a conveyorchain, sprocket means for guiding said chain about said winch roller,means for connecting said chain conveyor in driving relationshiprelative said winch roller, and means for connecting said rake in timeddriving relationship relative to said conveyor.
 7. The invention asdefined in claim 6 wherein said rake means includes a rotatablyjournaled bar disposed below said guide roller, a plurality of radiallyextending fingers longitudinally spaced along said bar, said radialdisposed fingers being progressively angularly disposed about the axisof said bar.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said fingersinclude an annular member tangentially connected to said bar insuccessive angularly disposed relationship whereby said fingers functionto separate the successive convolution of the strand material along thelength of said winch roller and associated guide roller.
 9. A materialtreatment apparatus comprising: an elongated support roller meansmounted for rotation for supporting the material to be treated, meansfor winding the material in convolute strand form upon said rollermeans, said winding means including an initiating winder and cooperatingguide means for guiding the convolutions of said strand material alongsaid roller means, said initiating winder includes an endless conveyordisposed adjacent one end of said support winch roller means, saidcooperating guide means including a guide roller disposed opposite saidsupport roller, whereby the axis of said guide roller is laterallydisposed relative to the axis of said support roller, and said guideroller being tapered to converge in the direction of feed of saidconvolute strands, a rake means disposed below said guide roller formaintaining the convolutions of said material spaced along the length ofsaid support roller, and means for effecting the drive of said supportroller means and cooperating winding means.